Victory at Grassy Narrows is 20 years in the making

Plus, dental benefits for children and an iconic Toronto family whose business failures left others paying the price [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the victory at Grassy Narrows, an iconic Toronto family whose business failures left others to pay the price, and new dental benefits for children. DON’T MISS Allan Lissner/Freegrassy.net Logging [Grassy Narrows just secured a “major landmark” — 20 years after its logging blockade began]( A struggle that began two decades ago — when a group of young people decided to link arms in front of a logging truck — has finally brought about a promise that no logging company or lumber mill will touch the trees from Grassy Narrows without the First Nation’s permission. According to the band council, the blockade has saved 15 million trees from being cut and contributed to a resurgence in Indigenous resistance across Canada. [Marco Chown Oved lays out how a history of blockading, marching, court battles, singing and drumming has delivered victory](. - More: Despite its logging win, Grassy Narrows continues to struggle with a legacy of mercury poisoning after a pulp mill upstream dumped its industrial waste into the river.  - The ongoing threat: Since Premier Doug Ford was elected in 2018, mineral prospecting has soared in Grassy Narrows. A Star investigation last year found more than 4,000 mining claims. The province is also drawing up a new 10-year forest management plan that locals fear could open the area back up for logging. - Watch for: Chief Rudy Turtle said the blockade will stay up until Ontario legally recognizes the band’s 2018 Land Sovereignty Claim, which prohibits clear-cutting, mining, the damming of rivers and oil, and gas extraction.  - Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s take: [Celebrating a tremendous — but fragile — victory at Grassy Narrows](. STAR INVESTIGATION [The Creeds were an iconic Toronto family who built an empire off furs, fashion, and dry cleaning. As business after business failed, others paid the price]( After moving to Canada in 2009, Byung Hun Kim and Dong Sook Youk sought a chance to own a small business. When they heard about the opportunity to own a dry cleaning kiosk operating in supermarkets owned by Loblaw, they sold properties in South Korea and gathered $190,000. But years of waiting for construction to be done turned into a decade, and their hopes vanished. They don’t blame Loblaw, however. They blame a man named Creed. For many Torontonians of a certain time, the Creed name was a symbol of wealth, status, and immigrant success, Jennifer Yang reports. Now, the family stands accused of using bankruptcy to evade debts, and [a new generation of immigrants allege the Creeds have ensnared them in a predatory business deal decimating their hard-won earnings](. - More: The Creeds blamed the failure of the Loblaw’s dry cleaning kiosks on the pandemic. Jack Creed declined to comment for this story, and he and his family members did not respond to multiple emails with detailed questions from the Star. - By the numbers: In 1994, Creed filed for personal bankruptcy with nearly $34 million in proven liabilities of unsecured debts, according to bankruptcy filings. In the years since, at least 10 companies directed or co-directed by Creed, his wife, or two sons have become insolvent, declaring more than $62.8 million in liabilities, according to bankruptcy records. Nicole Osborne/The Canadian Press Federal Politics [Justin Trudeau rolls out the children’s dental benefit as experts flag the program’s flaws]( On Thursday, the federal government began accepting applications for children’s dental benefits. Liberals say the plan will boost kids’ oral health while alleviating economic hardships for Canadians. Families without private insurance and earning less than $90,000 per year are eligible to receive up to $1,300 over two years for out-of-pocket dental costs for children under 12. [Stephanie Levitz reports on the criticisms the program is already receiving for being confusing](. - More: The program is a template for a national dental care system and a political template for the Liberals to hold onto power, Stephanie Levitz writes, noting the NDP insisted on the implementation of a dental care regime as a condition of its deal to support the minority Liberal government. - More: Ready to apply? [Here’s what you need to know](. WHAT ELSE [Doug Ford says the AG should “stay in her lane”]( after she hired “mystery shoppers” to test anti-money laundering efforts at casinos … and [is accusing Toronto of mismanaging its finances in the housing bill dispute](. Winnipeg police say one man is behind the murders of four women, all believed to be Indigenous. [Here’s what we know about the victims](. Danielle Smith’s government is opening the door to Sovereignty Act tweaks amid criticism. [Here’s what could change](. U.S. border citizens are rushing to buy Canadian recreational properties. [Here’s why and when they’ve bought properties ahead of a foreign buyer ban](. Take a look at the [“alarming” rates of discrimination faced by newcomers searching for housing](. [An Indigenous TikToker says federal officials were disrespectful]( in a “tense” meeting about Ottawa’s online streaming bill. Air Canada has been named the best airline in North America for the fourth straight year. [These criticisms make it a surprising win](. [This Toronto Brazilian eatery serving up pastels]( gives you a reason to savour quick bites. [A replica handgun placed two Scarborough schools into lockdown](. [Kanye West repeatedly praised Hitler in a shocking antisemitic rant]( on a far-right media show. Elon Musk’s secretive brain chip company could begin human trials in six months. [Here’s what we know](. POV Matthias Hangst/Getty Images [If only. Almost. Not Enough. Bruce Arthur sums up Canada’s performance in the World Cup loss to Morocco — and the lessons the players can take home](. CLOSE-UP Richard Lautens/Toronto Star ST. LAWRENCE: Childcare worker Jason Quammie worries he and his colleagues may be locked out from their workplace due to a labour dispute with St. Lawrence Co-operative Daycare, which could also shut off care to nearly 200 children. [Here’s how workers’ push for improvements to paid time has clashed with the not-for-profit centre](. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_156844). Ashley will see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](